NEW UNIFORMS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 148, 18 March 1940, Page 8

NEW UNIFORMS

British Battle Dress For Troops THIRD ECHELON TO BE EQUIPPED Start With Manufacture Working to Government specifications, New Zealand firms have started to make Army uniforms to the pattern of the British battle dress. It is intended to equip all members of the Third Echelon of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force with this uniform. ‘•Wo have already gone into production with this battle dress,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, on Saturday. “The Government has placed orders for enough for the whole of the Third Echelon, and we will con-

tinue to manufacture them for all subsequent drafts. As soon as supplies of battle dress are available, the present serge uniform will no longer be issued.” The battle dress is the result of a number of years of research to secure comfort and durability. It also includes facilities to carry soldiers’ small personal possessions. Instead of the better-known khaki tunic with a stocklike collar, there is a belted blouse, rather like a lumber jacket, with a soft buttoned collar, buttoned cuffs, and two fair-sized patch-pockets on the chest. The trousers are very different from the familiar “stove-pipes” of the present New Zealand uniform. Said to resemble ski-ing trousers, they are of ankle-length and wide, and have a deep patch-pocket on the front of the left thigh and another on the back. They can be secured over the boot with a strap or an anklet. Khaki is still the colour, but another notable difference is the absence of glinting brass buttons, thus relieving the soldier of his present monotonous task of polishing and, what is more important, rendering him less conspicuous in action. The New Zealanders will retain their distinctive hats.

Regimental officers are to be Issued with the same type of uniform as the men. This is a development of a practice inaugurated in the Great War after it had been found that the distinctive uniforms of officers made attractive targets for snipers. On embarkation for overseas, the New Zealand soldier will in future take with him one suit of battle dress, one suit of khaki drill uniform, and one suit of working dress or denims.